Why Salary Alone Does Not Tell You Whether to Accept a UAE Offer

A Nigerian receiving a UAE job offer for AED 10,000 per month will immediately convert it to Naira and feel like the number is large. At ₦377/AED, AED 10,000 is roughly ₦3.77 million. But that figure is misleading without context. AED 10,000 with no housing benefit in Dubai, a family of three, and monthly remittances to Nigeria can leave you worse off than you are now. AED 10,000 with full housing and transport provided for a single person in a mid-range area is a genuinely strong financial position.

This tool scores an offer across five dimensions: salary adequacy for your household, benefits quality, visa legitimacy, contract terms, and employer trustworthiness. Each dimension contributes to a total score. The score tells you where you stand and what to push back on before you accept.

How the Offer Score Is Calculated

The tool assigns points across five categories. The weights reflect what matters most in practice for a Nigerian moving to the UAE:

Salary scoring is not just whether the number is large. It compares the offered salary against the minimum needed to live adequately in the UAE given your household size and what the employer provides. An AED 8,000 salary with full housing for a solo applicant scores higher than an AED 12,000 salary with no benefits for the same person.

What a Strong UAE Offer Looks Like for a Nigerian

There is no single salary number that makes a UAE offer good or bad. But a strong offer typically includes most of the following: a competitive salary relative to your role and experience, employer-provided health insurance, an annual air ticket home, a written and signed contract before travel, a proper employment visa processed by the employer, and clarity on probation terms.

For families, employer support for school fees or a significantly higher salary to absorb the cost is the deciding factor. Without it, even a seemingly good salary can fall apart when you add one child to a Dubai private school.

Table of Truth: Offer Quality by Scenario

Realistic Scenarios

Scenario 1: Single graduate, first UAE job, AED 7,500

Funmilayo, 26, receives an offer for AED 7,500 per month as a marketing executive in Dubai. The employer provides health insurance (basic) and a transport allowance of AED 700. No housing benefit. She plans to share a flat in Al Quoz for approximately AED 2,200 per month (her share). She sends ₦150,000 home monthly (approximately AED 398). Her estimated monthly balance after all costs: AED 900 to AED 1,300 per month. This is tight but workable, especially if she treats the first 18 months as a foundation period, avoids lifestyle inflation, and pushes for a raise at her first review. The tool would score this offer at around 52 out of 100: survivable but not strong. The missing piece is a housing allowance, which she should negotiate.

Scenario 2: Married professional, AED 16,000, no family benefits

Seun, 33, is offered AED 16,000 as a finance manager. His wife will move with him. No children yet. The employer provides nothing beyond a basic health policy for Seun only. His wife is not covered. No housing, no transport, no air ticket. He will need to cover his wife’s health insurance (AED 300 to AED 500/month), rent for a two-bedroom (AED 6,500 to AED 8,000 amortized in a mid-range area), and transport. After all costs including AED 800 in monthly remittances, his estimated disposable income is AED 2,500 to AED 4,000. He is financially okay but paying for most benefits himself. The offer scores around 58 to 62. The negotiation target is clear: request a housing allowance or a salary bump of AED 3,000 to cover the gap.

Scenario 3: Family of four, AED 22,000 but no school fees

Ikenna, 38, is a senior engineer with two children (ages 8 and 11). His offer is AED 22,000 with housing provided (a company flat) and health insurance for himself only. No school fees support, no air ticket. Two children in a mid-range Dubai school will cost approximately AED 5,000 to AED 7,000 per month combined. Wife and children’s health insurance adds another AED 700 to AED 1,000. Monthly remittances: AED 1,200. After all costs including school fees, his estimated monthly disposable income is AED 1,500 to AED 5,000 depending on school choice. This offer requires negotiation on school fees or a salary increase to AED 28,000 to be genuinely viable for his situation. The tool scores it around 55 to 60 without school support.

Common Questions About UAE Job Offers for Nigerians

Is a probation period in UAE normal and how long should it be?

Yes, probation is standard in the UAE. UAE Labour Law (Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021) caps probation at 6 months. This cannot be extended. If a contract states a longer period, that clause is unenforceable, but the existence of it still signals something about how the employer approaches legal compliance.

Can a UAE employer cancel my visa during probation?

Yes. During probation, either party can end the employment with a minimum of 14 days written notice. The employer can cancel your residence visa in connection with the employment ending. This means your visa status changes immediately and you must find a new sponsor within a grace period or exit the UAE.

What should I check before accepting any UAE offer?

Verify the company’s UAE trade licence number through the relevant emirate’s Department of Economic Development (DED). Confirm the offer is in writing and signed. Make sure the contract matches what was discussed verbally, particularly salary, benefits, role, and start date. Confirm the visa type and who pays for the processing.

Is it better to accept a lower salary with full benefits or a higher salary with none?

In most cases for Nigerians, a lower salary with full housing provided is better. Housing is your largest expense and is paid annually upfront. A higher gross salary that requires you to find and fund your own housing means managing a large annual cash outflow from month one. The net financial position often favors the benefits package over the raw salary number.

What happens to my UAE visa if I resign or get laid off?

Your employment visa is tied to your employer. When employment ends, your visa enters a grace period. UAE law gives you 60 days (in most cases) to either find a new employer, change visa status, or exit the country. After 60 days, you begin accumulating overstay fines. Do not assume you can stay indefinitely while job hunting.

Can my employer change my salary after I arrive in the UAE?

A signed contract protects your agreed salary. An employer cannot legally reduce your salary without your written consent. If they try, this is a contract violation and you can raise a complaint with the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE) at mohre.gov.ae.

Assumptions This Tool Uses

• Salary adequacy thresholds: AED 5,000 to AED 7,000 for a single person with no benefits; AED 8,000 to AED 10,000 for a couple; AED 15,000+ for a family with children. Based on 2025 to 2026 Dubai cost of living data.
• Housing benefit value: full provision is equivalent to approximately AED 5,000 to AED 8,000 per month in saved rent (mid-range Dubai area).
• School fee benchmark: AED 2,500 to AED 5,500 per child per month for mid-range Dubai private schools.
• Health insurance: AED 300 to AED 500 per month per adult for basic cover; AED 600 to AED 1,200 for comprehensive family cover.
• Annual air ticket value: AED 1,800 to AED 3,500 per economy round-trip to Lagos.
• Probation law reference: UAE Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations. Cap of 6 months.
• AED to NGN rate: default ₦377 per AED (late March 2026). Update for accuracy.
• Current situation scoring: this is a subjective risk-weighting factor. Someone with a good job in Nigeria has more leverage to negotiate or walk away than someone who is unemployed.

Disclaimer